Marburg and Merlewood residents raise concerns
Regarding Ward 18 issues, Fathima Moosa raised the issue of Law Enforcement officers not being visible when needed most.
Drug lords, illegal dumping, verges, poor road infrastructure, and housing are some of the problems faced by cluster six residents in Ray Nkonyeni Municipality (RNM).
RNM hosted a mayoral imbizo for Wards 4, 17, 18, and 20 at the Port Shepstone Civic Centre on Monday this week.
Regarding Ward 18 issues, Fathima Moosa said they are unsure whether contractors have been paid as verges have not been cut.
She said illegal dumping was another issue that was becoming a health problem in the ward.
“There are no illegal dumping signs in the area, and this a problem because people do not know where they should not be dumping. The roads in Ward 18 are not riddled with potholes anymore, but craters and this is because of the flood damage, but it has not been attended to,” she said.
She added that several streetlights in the ward are not working.
Moosa also raised the issue of Law Enforcement officers not being visible when needed most.
She also said stormwater drains in Ward 18 are problematic and have not been attended to for quite a while.
“We have a big drug problem. The drug lords and users are based in our wards. We do not know what to do anymore. We have engaged with Saps and the stakeholders involved,” said Moosa.
Also, Jennifer Bath of Ward 17 said they are concerned about the incomplete phase one of the RDP housing project in Merlewood.
Bath said the roads in the area are a headache, especially when it rains.
She said illegal dumping, drug users and dealers are also a problem in Ward 17.
Ward 4 and 20 residents said they need the issue of RDP houses, roads, crime, and electricity addressed.
Responding to residents, RNM mayor Zodwa Mzindle urged them to notify the municipality if they feel a contractor has produced poor work so that they can ask the service provider to redo the work.
She said the issue of crime and drugs needed a collective approach.
Mzindle said illegal dumping was an ongoing issue caused by residents.
She encouraged them to call each other out when they see someone dumping waste where they should not.
“We plan to put up illegal dumping signs, but we all need to play our role. We need to assist police and community policing forums when it comes to issues of drugs and crime. We have also noted concerns raised by each ward along with the ward councillors,” she said.
HAVE YOUR SAY
Like the South Coast Fever’s Facebook page
